Family donates land with son in mind

At an early age, the Pieniozeks write in a news release, their son took a “keen” interest in Little Traverse Conservancy nature preserves around his home. The couple thought for a while it was just a childhood phase that would pass. But, by 2011 he had memorized almost all of them and was yearning to learn more. H...

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By Mary Barker

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

By Mary Barker

Posted Jul. 8, 2013 at 7:48 PM

By Mary Barker
Posted Jul. 8, 2013 at 7:48 PM

Burt Township, Mich.

By MARY BARKER

mbarker@cheboygantribune.com

BURT TOWNSHIP – Parents Jim and Carrie Pieniozek had no idea when their first-born son entered the world in 2004 that seven years later his devotion to nature preserves would lead to one being donated in his name.

Burt Township residents and visitors to the area adjacent to Little Traverse Conservancy's Chaboiganing Preserve near Burt Lake will be able to enjoy a new nature preserve, the Aaron J. & Adrienne N. Pieniozek Nature Preserve. Established in March of 2012, two acres of land with 300 feet of frontage on Brutus Road was donated by the Pieniozeks to the Little Traverse Conservancy.

The conservancy had approved a trail easement through almost 3,600 feet of the Chaboiganing Nature Preserve for the new Burt Lake non motorized trail. The same trail will run along 300 feet of the new Pieniozek preserve, within the road right-of-way.

At an early age, the Pieniozeks write in a news release, their son took a "keen" interest in Little Traverse Conservancy nature preserves around his home. The couple thought for a while it was just a childhood phase that would pass. But, by 2011 he had memorized almost all of them and was yearning to learn more. He "insisted" one day he would have his own nature preserve.

The young boy visited each preserve in the area and kept track of them in a special notebook, according to the parents' statement in a news release. Always available in their car, the notebook was ready for recording whenever a new preserve was spotted. His parents contemplated their son's desire for his own preserve and concluded the perfect spot was just steps away from his home, close to Maple Bay Campground and Burt Lake access, on property they owned and wanted to protect.

Two lots were purchased by Jim Pieniozek in the early 1990s from Monica Hippler. They were once part of the farm owned by Charles (Chick) Lathers, who played as an infielder for the Detroit Tigers and later opened a dairy on the land.

The Pieniozek's wrote, "With the addition of the proposed bike path that will run along the edge of the property, our family hopes that future generations will be able to enjoy this unspoiled and beautiful piece of Northern Michigan."

The preserve was named after Aaron and his sister, Adrienne. For more information about the Little Traverse Conservancy, call 231 347-0991 or visit www.landtrust.org.